To add fractions with different denominators, we must learn how to construct the Lowest Common Multiple of a series of terms.

The Lowest Common Multiple (LCM) of a series of termsis the smallest product that contains every factor from every term.

For example, consider this series of three terms:

pqprps

We will now construct their LCM -- factor by factor.

To begin, it will have the factors of the first term:

LCM = pq

Moving on to the second term, the LCM must have the factors pr. But it already has the factor p -- therefore, we need add only the factor r:

LCM = pqr

Finally, moving on to the last term, the LCM must contain the factors ps. But again it has the factor p, so we need add only the factor s:

LCM = pqrs.

That product is the Lowest Common Multiple of pq, pr, ps. It is the smallest product that contains each of them as factors.

Example 3. Construct the LCM of these three terms: x, x2, x3.

Solution. The LCM must have the factor x.

LCM = x

But it also must have the factors of x2 -- which are x ·x. Therefore, we must add one more factor of x :

LCM = x2

Finally, the LCM must have the factors of x3, which are x·x·x. Therefore,

LCM = x3.

x3 is the smallest product that contains x, x2, and x3 as factors.

We see that when the terms are powers of a variable -- x, x2, x3 -- then their LCM is the highest power.

Problem 2. Construct the LCM of each series of terms.

a)

ab, bc, cd. abcd

b)

pqr, qrs, rst. pqrst

c)

a, a2, a3, a4. a4

d)

a2b, ab2. a2b2

e) ab, cd. abcd

We will now see what this has to do with adding fractions.

Example 4. Add:

3 ab

+

4 bc

+

5 cd

Solution. To add fractions, the denominators must be the same. Therefore, as a common denominator choose the LCM of the original denominators. Choose abcd. Then, convert each fraction to an equivalent fraction with denominator abcd.

It is necessary to write the common denominator only once:

3 ab

+

4 bc

+

5 cd

=

3cd + 4ad + 5ababcd

To change

3 ab

into an equivalent fraction with denominator abcd,

simply multiply ab by the factors it is missing, namely cd. Therefore, we must also multiply 3 by cd. That accounts for the first term in the numerator.

To change

4 bc

into an equivalent fraction with denominator abcd,

multiply bc by the factors it is missing, namely ad. Therefore, we must also multiply 4 by ad. That accounts for the second term in the numerator.

To change

5 cd

into an equivalent fraction with denominator abcd,

multiply cd by the factors it is missing, namely ab. Therefore, we must also multiply 5 by ab. That accounts for the last term in the numerator.

That is how to add fractions with different denominators.

Each factor of the original denominators must be a factor of the common denominator.

Problem 3. Add.

a)

5 ab

+

6ac

=

5c + 6babc

b)

2 pq

+

3 qr

+

4 rs

=

2rs + 3ps + 4pqpqrs

c)

7 ab

+

8 bc

+

9 abc

=

7c + 8a + 9abc

d)

1a

+

2 a2

+

3 a3

=

a2 + 2a + 3a3

e)

3 a2b

+

4 ab2

=

3b + 4aa2b2

f)

5 ab

+

6 cd

=

5cd + 6ababcd

g)

_2_ x(x + 2)

+

__3__ (x + 2)(x − 3)

=

2(x − 3) + 3xx(x + 2)(x − 3)

=

_ 2x − 6 + 3x_x(x + 2)(x − 3)

=

_5x − 6_ x(x + 2)(x − 3)

At the 2nd Level we will see a similar problem, but the denominators will not be factored.

Problem 4. Add: 1 −

1a

+

c + 1ab

. But write the answer as

1 − A fraction.

1 −

1a

+

c + 1ab

=

1 − (

1a

−

c + 1ab

)

=

1 −

b − (c + 1)ab

=

1 −

b − c − 1ab

Example 5. Denominators with no common factors.

a m

+

bn

When the denominators have no common factors, their LCM is simply their product, mn.

a m

+

bn

=

an + bmmn

The numerator then appears as the result of "cross-multiplying" :

an + bm

However, that technique will work only when adding two fractions, and the denominators have no common factors.

Example 6.

2 x − 1

−

1x

Solution. These denominators have no common factors -- x is not a factor of x − 1. It is a term. Therefore, the LCM of denominators is their product.

2 x − 1

−

1x

=

2x − (x − 1) (x − 1)x

=

2x − x + 1 (x − 1)x

=

_x + 1_(x − 1)x

Note: The entire x − 1 is being subtracted. Therefore, we write it in parentheses -- and its signs change.